Device for promoting growth of hair.



N0. 655,48l. Patented Aug. 7, I900. F. W. EVANS.

DEVICE FOR PRDMUTING GROWTH OF HAIR.

(Application filed Aug. 29, 1899.)

(No Iodel.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK WATKINS EVANS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO EVANS, GROVE & EVERETT, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR PROMOTING GROWTH OF HAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,481, dated August 7, 1900.

Application filed August 29,1899. Serial No. 728,822. (No model.)

To coZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK VVATKINS EVANS, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Mechanical Hair-Restorers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a mechanical device for restoring the hair and promoting the growth of hair. The principle of operation is that of producing a vacuum or partial vacuum around the scalp, thereby relieving it of the pressure of the atmosphere and allowing the blood to circulate more freely in the veins of the scalp, and so impart a more healthy con dition thereto. Various mechanical devices may be used for obtaining a vacuum at the location desired, but I have described one form which will serve the purpose with a satisfactory degree of efficiency and at small cost. The device is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which a Figure 1 is a representation of a human head with my improved device applied thereto, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the device itself.

I propose to fit on the head a frame covered with air tight material or materials that will become air-tight when air is withdrawn from beneath the frame, and for this purpose I make use of a rigid support to prevent collapsing of the device and a sheet of material impervious to air to effect the seal. For the rigid frame I use ordinary wire-netting, (indicated by din the drawings,) to which is imparted a dish shape adapted to fit over the head, but of somewhat-larger size than the head to leave a space between the scalp and frame. Around the edges of this wire frame is a steel or other suitable band a, of a shape closely approximating the contour of the head from a point above the eyebrows backward over the ears and then downward on the neck below the line of hair. This band is preferably made thin and to spring against.

the head at all points. On top of the Wire frame I place a sheet of oiled silk, rubber, or other material I), impervious to air, and secure it by cement or otherwise to the band a, leaving a loose edge 17, extending beyond the band slightly for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. This outer sheet I) is to be fitted at a suitable point, as at c, with a nipple and valve for the attachment of apiece of tubing 0' for connection with a suctionpump, or the tube may be fitted with a mouthpiece c adapted to be taken into the mouth and sucked upon to exhaust the air from the space beneath the frame. By manipulating the pump or exhaustingin any other way the air-pressure is removed from the scalp and the blood permitted to flow into the veins of the scalp more freely. This, according to expert opinion, will promote the growth of hair and effect a cure of baldness. When the air is withdrawn from the chamber beneath the frame, the pressure of the atmosphere on the outside will force the free edge I) against the head,and thus automatically seal the chamber to an extent sufficient for the purpose.

Having described my invention, I claim A device for promoting the growth of hair consisting of a rigid skeleton frame, of a shape adapted to fit over the head and provided with a spring-band around its edges adapted to press upon the head when the device is applied thereto, in combination with a sheet of impervious material secured to the outside of the frame and having a free edge adapted to be forced against the head by the pressure of the atmosphere, substantially as described. a

In witness whereof I subscribe my signa ture in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK WATKINS EVANS. 

